Spinning apparatus with vaporous heating jacket

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for the spinning of threads, filaments, bands, ribbons or the like from molten thermoplastic polymers including at least one screw extruder or pump means, a melt distributor conduit system connected thereto to receive and transport the polymer melt, and a series of spinning heads with each head being in fluid connection with the extruder or pump means through an individual conduit of the distributor system. The melt-conducting conduits of the melt distributor system and the spinning heads are encased or lined by a common vapor generator for heating with diphenyl vapor or the like, this generator having a connected vapor distributor and condensate collecting conduit system extending from the screw to the common vapor generator and also from the generator to each spinning head to heat the same.

Unite States Patent [191 Lenk [4 1 June as, 1974 1 1 SPINNING APPARATUSWlTll-ll V HEATING JACKET [75] Inventor: Erich Lenk, Remscheid, Germanynous [22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 245,981

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec, 27, 1971 Germany 2120600[52] US. Cl 425/73, 165/105, 425/378 [51] Int. Cl mid 1/06 [58] Field ofSearch 425/382.2, 73, 74, 192, 425/463, 464,878, 379', 264/176 F, 177 F;165/105 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,821 7/1958Phipps 425/192 3,466,357 9/1969 Schippers et a1. 425/192 X 3,480,706 1H1969 Carpenter et al. 264/176 F 3,562,858 2/1971 Lel'mer 425/192FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 1,244,869 9/1960 France 165/1051,289,908 2/1962 France 264/176 F Primary ExaminerRobert D. BaldwinAttorney, Agent, or FirmJohnston, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff ABSTRACTApparatus for the spinning of threads, filaments, bands, ribbons or thelike from molten thermoplastic polymers including at least one screwextruder or pump means, a melt distributor conduit system connectedthereto to receive and transport the polymer melt, and a series ofspinning heads with each head being in fluid connection with theextruder or pump means through an individual conduit of the distributorsystem. The melt-conducting conduits of the melt distributor system andthe spinning heads are encased or lined by a common vapor generator forheating with diphenyl vapor or the like, this generator having aconnected vapor distributor and condensate collecting conduit systemextending from the screw to the common vapor generator and also from thegenerator to each spinning head to heat the same.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPINNING APPARATUS WITH VAPOROUS HEATINGJACKET In a known melt-spinning apparatus for producing filaments, themelt distributor conduit system and the vapor distributor for heatingthe spinning heads as well as the condensate collecting system are allarranged separately. In this apparatus, the melt-conducting device,i.e., a screw extruder or a pump, and the melt distributor conduits orlines are arranged above the spinning heads and the melt distributorlines are connected to the top of the spinning heads. The condensatereflux lines and usually also the vapor-conducting lines are arrangedunderneath the spinning heads and are connected from below with thespinning heads. The vaporgenerating assembly is mounted so as to bespatially separate from the spinning apparatus. Furthermore, anothervapor-conducting line for the diphenyl or other heat transfer agent canbe directed to a central melt distributor line. Proceeding from thiscentral line, the meltconducting lines are heated, all these melt lineseach being surrounded by a mantle or tubular jacket with spacing toprovide an annular passage through which the diphenyl vapor can beconducted as the heat transfer medium.

With this known arrangement of the melt-conducting and vapor-conductinglines, including the condensate lines, one needs a considerablestructural height to accommodate the entire installation above and belowthe spinning heads, especially because of the conduit systems requiredin both places as well as the meltconveying means provided above thespinning heads and the vapor generator arranged spatially separatetherefrom. This is most unfavorable in view of the high spacerequirements and the lack of accessibility to the spinning heads.

It is further decidedly disadvantageous that the individual lines of theconduit systems in this known spinning apparatus must be installed andfitted at the construction site in exact correspondence to or alignmentwith the particular arrangement of the spinning heads, themelt-conveyance means and the vapor generator, i.e., in accordance withthe length and position of each unit. This means that all lines must becustom fitted before they can be finally and exactly assembled. Such anassembly is time consuming and costly. Moreover, it has been necessaryto transport the essential parts of the spinning apparatus, namely thespinning heads, the screw extruder, the vapor generator, themeltconducting lines, the vapor-conducting lines, etc., from the placeof manufacture to the construction site as individual parts. Theconstruction and transportation of the individual parts of the apparatusare therefore separate steps in the development of the installation andthe arrangement of the individual parts in the finished apparatus, andit would be much more desirable to preassemble these parts before beingtransported to the site of installation.

It is one object of the present invention to redesign and simplify theentire spinning installation consisting essentially of spinningapparatus and the individual parts required for vapor heating, vapordistribution and condensate collection so as to provide an improvedconstruction and operation. Further, it is an object of the invention toassemble these construction parts either with or withoutvapor-generating means into readily mountable structural units in such away that together with the spinning heads and their associated blowingor cooling shafts they yield a very compact spinning installation.

In accordance with the invention, these and other b- 5 jects andadvantages are achieved in an improved spinning apparatus or assemblyfor producing melt-spun filaments, bands or the like by the combinationwhich comprises a plurality of spinning units including a series ofindividual spinning heads arranged in a row; a single extruder or pumpmeans for supplying polymer melt to said spinning heads, a meltdistributor system of conduits interconnecting said extruder or pumpmeans with said spinning heads for distribution of the melt to each ofthe spinning heads, and a second fluid distributor system for a vaporousheating agent including a common jacketing means encasing the conduitsof the melt distributor system, at least part of said jacketing meansbeing positioned below the level of said spinning heads.

The jacketing means is preferably an elongated vessel mounted orarranged below the level of the spinning heads so as to receive theindividual melt-conducting conduits from the corresponding individualspinning heads as well as the supply conduit from the extruder or pumpmeans within a common enclosure for the vaporous heating agent.Individual vapor lines connected to the vessel then extend outwardly andupwardly so as to surround and accompany the corresponding individualmelt conduits leading to each of the spinning heads. As the heatingvapors condense during the course of indirect heat exchange in thespinning heads and also in the melt-conducting conduits, the condensatethus can return by gravity flow into the elongated vessel where it canbe heated and revaporized or where it can be further conducted to areboiler or the like preferably located below the vapor distributingvessel.

The invention is more particularly illustrated but not limited by theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partly schematic perspective view of the entire spinningassembly arranged in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of the central elongated vessel servingas vapor distributor, condensate collector and vapor generator; and

FIG. 3 is another schematic end view of the elongated vessel toillustrate an embodiment in which the vapor generator is spatiallyseparated from the vapor distributor.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the spinning assembly is constructedaround a central elongated vessel or enclosed tubular member 1 having aplurality of tap lines or distribution conduits 2a, 2b, 20, etc.directed diagonally upwardly to a relatively large number of spinningheads 3a, 3b, 30, etc., arranged in a row along a substantiallyhorizontal plane. The vessel or tube 1 is preferably situated with itslongitudinal axis approximately parallel to the horizontal plane or acentral line drawn through the series of spinning heads and is alsolocated laterally and at least partly below the level of the spinningheads. This vessel 1 can then be partly filled with a vaporous heatingagent such as diphenyl or the like, as indicated in FIG. 2, and equippedwith any suitable heating means 12 to vaporize the liquid diphenyl. Thisheating means may be electrical as with heating bands or otherresistance heaters or may also be accomplished with other conventionaldirect or indirect heating devices.

The vessel 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with its conduits 2a, 2b, 2c and4 acts as a complete system for the generation and distribution of theheating vapor and also for the collection of condensate. In its primaryfunction as a fluid distributor system, these elements constitute acommon jacketing means encasing the melt distributor system whichessentially includes the three branched conduits 5a, 5b and 50 extendingto their respective spinning heads and the melt supply conduit or mainfeed line 6 issuing from the outlet end of the screw extruder 7. Each ofthe melt distributing lines 50, 5b and 5c are preferably of the samelength so as to maintain a common temperature control in relation to theresidence time of the melt in the distribution system.

The screw extruder 7 with its drive means 8 is likewise preferablymounted laterally underneath the spinning heads 3a, 3b and 3c, i.e., toone side of the row of spinning heads so as to be approximately parallelthereto as well as being parallel to the vessel 1. To facilitate therecovery of the heating vapor condensate, the encasing conduit 4 aroundmelt supply conduit 6 is preferably also directed slightly upwardly fromthe vessel l to its connection at the end of the extruder 7.

In some instances, the extruder 7 may be replaced by a conventionalpump, e.g., to conduct the polymer melt from a single large extruderwhich supplies an even larger number of spinning heads. Such variationsin the distribution of the initial polymer melt will be readily apparentto those skilled in this art.

In the illustrated embodiment, the condensate return lines are identicalwith the vapor distribution conduits 2a, 2b, 2c and 4 which form anannular space around the melt conduits 5a, 5b, 5c and 6, respectively.It is also feasible, however, to provide separate return lines for thecondensate, including separate lines withdrawing condensate from withinthe spinning heads and/or from an extruder or pump means which is moreadvantageously arranged in such a manner that a gravity flow return ofthe condensate is not possible. With respect to the spinning heads andtheir melt feed conduits, the common vapor distribution and condensatecollection system does represent a significant advantage where a gravityflow return of the condensate is ensured by the positioning of thevessel 1 or at least part of the common jacketing means below the levelof the spinning heads.

As is conventional in spinning assemblies, it is desirable to providespinning shafts or so-called blowing shafts 9a, 9b, 9c,etc. and alsosuitable metering pumps 10a, 10b, 10c, etc. for the individual spinningheads together with their associated drive means 11a, 11b, 110, etc.Means for mounting or supporting all of the individual elements ormembers of the spinning apparatus have been omitted in the drawing sinceone can readily construct a suitable framework or provide floor and wallarrangements to receive the assembled structure. It is of specialadvantage that all of the parts can be mounted on supporting means afterbeing formed of structural units mountable in prefinished form and beingtransportable as a unitary spinning installation.

In another embodiment as indicated in FIG. 3, the vessel 1 serves onlyas a distribution means for the vapor and a part of the condensatecollection system while the generation of the heating vapor from thecontinuously returned liquid condensate is carried out in the spatiallyseparated pot or reboiler l3 equipped with a heating device 14.Condensate is returned from the lowermost level of the vessel 1 throughline 15 to the reboiler 13 while vapors are preferably fed upwardlythrough a number of feed lines 16a, 161), etc. In many instances, itwill be desirable to provide a single reboiler 13 for a large number ofvapor distribution systems or vessels 1 so that many other vapor feedlines 17 can also be directed off from the reboiler. In each instance,the reboiler is preferably arranged a short distance below thedistribution vessel 1 and can extend longitudinally under one or manysuch vessels in a large commercial installation. Heating bands are thenmost advantageous as the means of heating the reboiler. Through thefeature that the heat or vapor distribution system simultaneouslyincludes in itself also the melt conducting conduits, i.e., the meltfeed line from the extruder and the melt distributor lines, one canachieve in a simple manner and by conventional regulating means auniform melt temperature and, at the same time with respect to theconstruction, a space-saving arrangement.

In the event that for reasons of special regulations or precautionsconcerning safety provisions the vapor distributing system may notdirectly include a vapor generating means, a spatially separate reboileror vaporgenerating unit is provided which is directly placed in fluidconnection with the jacketing means of the vapor distribution system.This embodiment is also preferred when a common vapor generating unit isprovided for several spinning installations.

A substantial advantage is to be seen in that all the essential elementsor parts which form the spinning apparatus can be mounted in their finalor at least preassembled state in the manufacturing plant. Thus, thescrew extruder with its drive means, the distributor systems containingthe melt conduits and vapor jackets as well as the spinning heads withtheir required pumps, pump drives and blowing shafts are arrangedmounted in their intended position on a carrying or transportable frame,and may even be wired and insulated so as to be ready for operation.These various structural parts yield an installation which is compact inconstruction with a relatively small overall volume. The entireinstallation can be loaded into a suitably large transportationcontainer with the aid of a suitable hoisting means or the like, andthen transported to the construction site, unloaded and erected. Such aspinning installation further exhibits advantages of improved freeviewing of the spinning heads during their operation and freeaccessibility to the spinning heads for maintenance or repair.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Apparatus for spinning filaments, bands or the like of a moltenthermoplastic polymer which comprises:

a plurality of spinning units including a series of individual spinningheads arranged in a row;

a single extruder or pump means for supplying polymer melt to saidspinning heads;

a melt distributor system of conduits interconnecting said extruder orpump means with said spinning heads for distribution of the melt to eachof the spinning heads; and

a second fluid distributor system for a vaporous heating agent includinga common jacketing means encasing the conduits of the melt distributorsystem, at least part of said jacketing means being formed by at leastone elongated vessel arranged below the level of said spinning heads tosupply vapor for heating said melt conduits and to collect thecondensate being formed during said heating.

2. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jacketing meansis an elongated vessel arranged below the level of said spinning headsto receive said conduits from the individual spinning heads and theextruder or pump means within a common enclosure for the vaporousheating agent, individual vapor lines being connected to said vessel toextend outwardly and upwardly together with and surrounding thecorresponding individual melt conduits to each of said spinning heads.

3. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said elongatedvessel arranged below the level of said spinning heads contains heatingmeans for generating said vaporous heating agent from a liquidcondensate thereof being collected in said vessel.

4. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein that portion of thejacketing means positioned below the level of the spinning heads is avapor generating vessel spatially separated from said second fluiddistributor system, said vapor generating vessel including heating meansfor generating said vaporous heating agent from a liquid condensatethereof being collected in said vessel, with fluid line means to supplyvapor to said second distributor system and to return condensate fromthe upper part of said second distributor system to said vaporgenerating vessel.

5. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conduits in saidmelt distributor system all slope downwardly to a common lower levelwithin said common jacketing means.

6. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said jacketing meansand said extruder or pump means are arranged to one side of the row ofspinning heads in approximately parallel relationship to said row and toeach other.

7. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spinning unitstogether with their associated metering pumps, pump drives and verticalblowing shafts are mounted on a supporting means which also carries theextruder or pump means for supplying the polymer melt and theintermediate melt-distribution and vapor distribution systems, all ofthe supported elements being formed of structural units mountable inprefinished form and being transportable as a unitary spinninginstallation.

8. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said intermediatemelt-distribution and vapordistribution systems are constructed incommon as a finished element which is replaceable along one side withthe extruder or pump means and along the other side with the row ofspinning heads.

1. Apparatus for spinning filaments, bands or the like of a moltenthermoplastic polymer which comprises: a plurality of spinning unitsincluding a series of individual spinning heads arranged in a row; asingle extruder or pump means for supplying polymer melt to saidspinning heads; a melt distributor system of conduits interconnectingsaid extruder or pump means with said spinning heads for distribution ofthe melt to each of the spinning heads; and a second fluid distributorsystem for a vaporous heating agent including a common jacketing meansencasing the conduits of the melt distributor system, at least part ofsaid jacketing means being formed by at least one elongated vesselarranged below the level of said spinning heads to supply vapor forheating said melt conduits and to collect the condensate being formedduring said heating.
 2. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid jacketing means is an elongated vessel arranged below the level ofsaid spinning heads to receive said conduits from the individualspinning heads and the extruder or pump means within a common enclosurefor the vaporous heating agent, individual vapor lines being connectedto said vessel to extend outwardly and upwardly together with andsurrounding the corresponding indivIdual melt conduits to each of saidspinning heads.
 3. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidelongated vessel arranged below the level of said spinning headscontains heating means for generating said vaporous heating agent from aliquid condensate thereof being collected in said vessel.
 4. Spinningapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein that portion of the jacketingmeans positioned below the level of the spinning heads is a vaporgenerating vessel spatially separated from said second fluid distributorsystem, said vapor generating vessel including heating means forgenerating said vaporous heating agent from a liquid condensate thereofbeing collected in said vessel, with fluid line means to supply vapor tosaid second distributor system and to return condensate from the upperpart of said second distributor system to said vapor generating vessel.5. Spinning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conduits in saidmelt distributor system all slope downwardly to a common lower levelwithin said common jacketing means.
 6. Spinning apparatus as claimed inclaim 5 wherein said jacketing means and said extruder or pump means arearranged to one side of the row of spinning heads in approximatelyparallel relationship to said row and to each other.
 7. Spinningapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spinning units together withtheir associated metering pumps, pump drives and vertical blowing shaftsare mounted on a supporting means which also carries the extruder orpump means for supplying the polymer melt and the intermediatemelt-distribution and vapor distribution systems, all of the supportedelements being formed of structural units mountable in prefinished formand being transportable as a unitary spinning installation.
 8. Spinningapparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said intermediatemelt-distribution and vapor-distribution systems are constructed incommon as a finished element which is replaceable along one side withthe extruder or pump means and along the other side with the row ofspinning heads.